Another lawsuit filed against Davenport Catholic Diocese

A sexual abuse lawsuit that’s the sixth since May, was filed Monday against the Davenport Catholic Diocese. The lawsuit was filed Monday in Clinton County District Court by Steven Davis, who now lives in Wisconsin, but grew up attending Saint Patrick’s Parish in Delmar, Iowa. Davis alleges in his lawsuit that Reverend Francis Bass fondled him on several instances, staring in 1982 when Davis was a 14-year-old altar boy at St. Patrick’s. Davis claims the Diocese of Davenport should have known about the sexual abuse when it occurred, but failed to take action against Bass. The Diocese issued a statement saying that Bass had been retired from the priesthood since 1992, and has not duties in the Diocese. It also said the Diocese of Davenport is reviewing the complaint and would have no further comment on the latest lawsuit.